System and method for locking and securing a firearm

ABSTRACT

A surface-mounted wall and/or vehicle locking and securing device for a firearm comprises a mounting bracket having a hinged lock bar connected at the second end of the mounting bracket. A magazine block is connected to the mounting bracket carrying a spring-loaded lock pin, which is dimensioned to pass through a hole or cut-out provided in the magazine block and the second end of the mounting bracket. A magazine mount tab is permanently attached to the mounting bracket for holding the magazine block. The device prevents the firearm from being loaded with ammunition and locks the firearm to a mounted surface using an external lock. The spring-loaded lock pin goes through the mounting bracket, magazine block inside the firearm and goes through a hole on the lock bar that comes through the firearm ejection port. The device has an automatic unlocking feature via a lock pin spring when the external padlock is removed from the pin lock tab and the lock pin. This allows the lock bar to automatically open for quick and easy removal of the firearm. Different external locks can be used to lock the firearm.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Preferred Embodiment

The present invention relates generally to a firearm lock, and more particularly, to a locking device for securing firearm.

2. Background Art

This invention relates generally to a safety device for firearm and deals more particularly with an improved lock for securing a firearm in a disabled or inoperative condition. A firearm used as a home defense weapon must be stored at a convenient location to be readily accessible in the event of emergency. However, if the firearm is kept where it is accessible to children in the household the firearm should be stored in locked condition so that it cannot be operated without first removing the external locking device which secures it.

This invention is to prevent unauthorized access to a firearm. It locks the firearm to any secure surface (wall, Roll bar, vehicle etc.). The device locks the firearm to a surface as well as prevents the firearm from being loaded or fired when an external lock is added. Both mechanisms that lock up the firearm are also spring loaded to ensure quick access once unlocked by authorized user. Once unlocked, the firearm magazine release button being pushed allows the user to lift up the firearm and load for immediate use.

The padlock for the firearm is not included so that the user can select a padlock with a level of security, speed and function that suits their needs.

There have been many attempts to devise locks for the firearm which will prevent unauthorized use of the firearm. These locks often are not integral with the firearm, and accordingly, must be removed in order to render the firearm operable, and can thereby be lost or misplaced. Prior locks for firearms which have been made to be integral with the firearm require extensive modification to the firearm, and thus can affect the reliability of the firearm and require time and expense for proper installation. These firearm locks are sometimes difficult to manipulate, and therefore can be dangerous in an emergency where quick operation of the firearm is necessary. There have been attempts to devise locks that go around a firearm such as a box around the firearm or a box around outside firearms action. The firearm locks from inside as well as the outside of the firearms action. Which secures the prevention of loading and firing as well as locking it to a surface.

Specifically, it is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved firearm lock for securing a firearm in an inoperative condition and which may be readily opened without a conventional key, numerical combination or the like. The flexibility to use directional pad for maximum speed or hidden shackle locks for maximum security.

There is a need in the current art to provide a lock for the firearm which will effectively prevent operation of the firearms by unauthorized users, but which are readily manipulated by authorized users to permit deactivation of the lock and operation of the firearm in an emergency. It is desirable that such a lock be easily installed and non-intrusive to the integrity of the firearm, such that continued reliability of the firearm is insured after installation of the lock.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, a surface-mounted locking and securing device is disclosed for economically, attractively, and securely holding a firearm. A first preferred embodiment of the locking device comprises an enclosure having a mounting bracket with a magazine block and a hinged latch lock bar. The mounting bracket having first and second ends carries a spring-loaded lock pin, which is dimensioned to pass through a hole or cut-out provided in the magazine block and a lock bar.

To secure a firearm, the firearm is held down against the magazine block and locked inside and outside by the spring-loaded lock pin and lock bar. This holds the firearm in place against the bracket, and prevents the firearm from being loaded with ammunition. The hinged latch lock bar is then swung closed so that the lock bar passes through the ejection port of the firearm and rests on the magazine block, enclosing the firearm to the device. The spring-loaded lock pin is pushed passing through the second end of the mounting bracket and the magazine block into a hole on the lock bar. An external pad lock is inserted at the mounting bracket lock tab attached to the mounting bracket and at the pin lock tab to secure the firearm into the mounting bracket.

To unlock the locking device, remove the external pad lock from the mounting bracket lock tab and the pin lock tab to release the spring-loaded pin from the magazine block. The spring-loaded pin drops down automatically for opening the spring-loaded lock bar hinge and the firearm is accessible. Additionally, the device has an automatic unlocking feature that when the external padlock is removed from the pin lock tab and lock pin, the lock bar automatically opens and release from the firearm's ejection port for quick and easy removal of the firearm without any extra step.

Other preferred embodiments of the locking and securing device has different latch door configurations and provide enclosures for multiple firearms.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a vertical mounting tab that allows user to mount the firearm either vertically or horizontally.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of locking and securing the firearm is disclosed including engaging the firearm's ejection port with a lock bar to prevent the firearm from being moved, locking the firearm to the device using an external lock, and limiting radial movement of the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the surface-mounted locking and securing device for a firearm according to the present invention in an unlocked position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a firearm being held by the surface-mounted locking and securing device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a firearm being held by the surface-mounted locking and securing device subsequently to lock bar being closed.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the surface-mounted locking and securing device for a firearm.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the surface-mounted locking and securing device for a firearm.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the surface-mounted locking and securing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of a surface-mounted locking and securing device 10 for a firearm, according to the present invention, comprises a surface mounting bracket 50, a magazine block 60, and a lock bar 20. The mounting bracket 50 is attached to the lock bar 20 by a spring hinge 30 and comprises a mounting tab 70.

Still referring FIG. 1, the firearm 90 is secured to the device 10 via the magazine block 60 and the lock bar 20, when the lock bar 20 is in a closed position as shown in FIGS. 2-3.

FIG. 2 displays an external pad lock 100 is used to lock the spring-loaded lock pin 140 at a pin lock tab 40 and a mounting bracket lock tab 80 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Additionally, FIG. 6 shows magazine mounting tab 70 being attached to the mounting bracket 50 to hold the magazine block 60 on the mounting bracket 50.

Referring to FIGS. 5-6, the device 10 is used to secure the firearm by locking the firearm within the magazine block 60, which is removably attached to the mounting bracket 50 by the spring-loaded lock pin 140. The vertical mounting tab 110 allows user to mount the firearm vertically as well as horizontally, which is a significant improvement of a previous version of the device.

Still referring FIG. 6, the device 10 comprises the generally L-shaped mounting bracket plate 50 connected to the lock bar 20 by a hinge 30. The lock bar 20 makes it easy to secure the firearm within the created enclosure. Furthermore, the screws 120 are used to secure the device 10 to the wall. The external pad lock 100 shown in FIG. 5 secures the mounting bracket 50 and spring-loaded pin 140 to secure the firearm to the device 10. The spring-loaded lock pin 140 in FIG. 6 is dimensioned to pass through the thru-hole 130 of the magazine block 60.

Still in FIG. 6, the device 10 further comprises the lock pin spring 150 for the spring-loaded lock pin 140 to go through the magazine block 60 via an opening 130. The lock pin spring 150 serves as an unlocking feature to automatically release the spring-loaded lock pin 140 for removing the firearm out of the enclosure. It should be noted that the pin lock tab 40 is an improvement of the previous version to increase the flexibility of locks that can be used specifically for hidden shackle locks.

Referring to FIG. 1, once the mounting bracket 50 is mounted to the wall, the firearm may be secured therein. To do so, the magazine block 60 is inserted through the firearm's magazine well (a space in which the magazine rests when the firearm is loaded), and the body of the firearm 90 is placed and positioned in the enclosure so that the lock bar 20 extends into the firearm's ejection port as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the lock bar 20 is swung closed. The spring-loaded lock pin 140 is pushed to go through the mounting bracket 50 and the magazine block 60. The external pad lock 100 is inserted to the mounting bracket lock tab 80 and the pin lock tab 40 as illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5, firmly securing the firearm within the enclosure. The roll bar mount tab 100 of the device 10 allows user to mount the roll bar mount as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Although the surface-mounted locking and securing device for the firearm of the present invention has been illustrated as having a generally box-shaped enclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any number of hinging members could be provided to accommodate the complex shapes of various long guns.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described surface-mounted locking and securing device for firearm, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A surface-mounted locking and securing device for firearm, the device comprises: (a) a mounting bracket having a first and second ends wherein the first end removably attached to a wall; (b) a vertical mounting tab on the first end for mounting the device vertically and horizontally; (c) a roll bar mounting tab on the first end for mounting the device to roll bar mount; (d) a lock bar attached to the mounting bracket by a spring hinge for creating an enclosure therewith when in a closed position; (e) a magazine block removably attached to the mounting bracket, whereby to secure the firearm, the firearm's chamber is placed in the magazine block with the lock bar extending into the firearm's ejection port when the lock bar is in a closed position; (f) means for locking the enclosure for facilitating selectively locking the lock bar in a closed position; (g) a spring-loaded lock pin to removably attach the magazine block to the mounting bracket; and (h) a spring loaded hinge opening automatically to release the firearm from the device.
 2. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is generally L-shaped having first and second side ends.
 3. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises at least a magazine mounting tab for holding the magazine block.
 4. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a mounting bracket lock tab, wherein the mounting bracket lock tab is permanently attached to the second end of the mounting bracket.
 5. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the spring-loaded lock pin further comprises a pin lock tab, wherein the pin lock tab is permanently attached to the spring-loaded lock pin.
 6. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the magazine block is: (a) being configured to extend into the firearm's chamber, thereby preventing the firearm from being discharged ammunition. (b) being configured to hold and support a firearm when the lock bar is in a closed position.
 7. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the lock bar is a hook-shaped attached to the second end of the mounting bracket by the spring hinge.
 8. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is generally U-shaped when the lock bar is in closed position.
 9. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 1, wherein a muzzle hook of the lock bar dimensioned to be at least partially inserted in a firearm's ejection port.
 10. The surface-mounted locking and securing device of claim 9, wherein the muzzle hook comprises an offset portion and a drop portion, wherein the drop portion is connected to the offset portion at substantially a 90° angle.
 11. A method of locking and securing a firearm using the device of claim 1, the method comprises the steps of: (a) preventing the firearm from being moved in a longitudinal direction by engaging the firearm's ejection port with a lock bar, wherein the lock bar: is hook-shaped, and is configured to hold and support the firearm; and is configured to extend into the firearm's ejection port, thereby preventing the firearm from being removed; and (b) limiting radial movement of the firearm.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step a is performed by inserting the lock pin through the magazine block and the lock bar.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein step b is performed by inserting the magazine block inside the firearm. 